Friday, January 8, 2010

Another Arctic Front Brings Very Cold Temperatures This Weekend

Temperatures Friday night will plummet into the 20s tonight across North Florida and hard freeze warnings have been posted as far south as Ocala. Temperatures are expected to remain above freezing levels from Orlando to Tampa southward. However, winds will be strong and will produce wind chill values in the mid 10s across North Florida, low 20s across Central Florida, and upper 20s across South Florida. Hard Freeze conditions could harm or kill vegetation, exposed pipes, automobiles and any small to medium animals that remain outdoors. Please use the 5-P's of cold weather safety tonight.

Scattered to isolated showers are expected across the Florida Big Bend, Northeast and Central Florida in advance of the front and rainfall will be light in nature, totaling less than 0.25 inches across the state. A light wintery mix of sleet is possible in a small strip of land south of Gainesville reaching to St. Augustine, but should be light enough to prevent any widespread problems. Overnight, rainfall will be shifting to Central and South Florida where rainfall accumulations will max out at 0.5 inches. No severe weather is expected.

Relative humidity values will drop below critical thresholds this afternoon in the western panhandle and Florida Big Bend, will enhance the spread of wildfires should they occur, and will warrant a red flag warning and a fire weather watch for the region.

There is a moderate rip current risk for East-Central Florida beaches today due to long period swells. Be sure to check local conditions when arriving to beaches in this region today.To access the latest watches, warnings, and advisories from the National Weather Service for your county, please click here. To access the latest watches, warnings, and advisories from theNational Weather Service for your county, please click here.